Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Cairngorms National Park and Monadhliath. Also includes the Ben Alder area hills between Loch Ericht and Loch Laggan.
Today's Forecast
Moderate breeze, fairly small impact, but chilly
A noticeable breeze, feeling distinctly chilly. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
Fine, partly cloudy, snow cover on tops
Mostly dry with partly cloudy skies; patchy cloud occasionally covering some mountain slopes; tops remain capped with snow.
Cool
Temperatures above freezing but typically no higher than +5C over the tops - if exposed to brisk winds will feel sub-zero. May not feel cold when climbing, but noticeably cold when stationary. Carry suitable clothing.
Winter kit required on higher mountains
Snow cover over higher mountain terrain. Safe progress around some tops and ridges will require suitable footwear - possibly crampons and ice-axe where necessary.
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Moderate breeze, fairly small impact, but chilly
A noticeable breeze, feeling distinctly chilly. Locally may be gusty, but unlikely to affect walking progress. 15-25mph.
Fine, partly cloudy, snow cover on tops
Mostly dry with partly cloudy skies; patchy cloud occasionally covering some mountain slopes; tops remain capped with snow.
Cool
Temperatures above freezing but typically no higher than +5C over the tops - if exposed to brisk winds will feel sub-zero. May not feel cold when climbing, but noticeably cold when stationary. Carry suitable clothing.
Winter kit required on higher mountains
Snow cover over higher mountain terrain. Safe progress around some tops and ridges will require suitable footwear - possibly crampons and ice-axe where necessary.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Saturday 20th April 2024
Last updated
Fri 19th Apr 24 at
4:00PM
Summary for all mountain areas
Most places dry all day with variable cloud and sun. Winds fairly light, but feeling chilly if exposed over higher terrain. Locally breezier in northern Scotland. A weak front drifting in from the northwest brings a little rain or drizzle to the northern Highlands mainly into afternoon.
Headline for Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Largely dry until late, varied cloud. Moderate breeze.
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northwesterly 15 to 25mph, typically strongest toward northeast Cairngorms NP, locally gusty around elevated passes.
Effect of the wind on you?
Prepare for marked wind chill where exposed on higher terrain especially in the morning. Fairly small effect on walking many areas, but locally feeling blustery at times around some eastern tops.
How Wet?
Risk drizzly rain forming later.
Much of the daytime likely dry. By later afternoon, occasional spots of drizzle developing from the west, may become steadier drizzly rain in north later in day.
Cloud on the hills?
Mostly very little, may form later
A little patchy cloud on some slopes in morning, mainly in northeast. Much cloud above the hills through the middle of the day, then some banks may start to form and drift onto higher slopes from the north later afternoon or evening.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
60%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Patchy sun in the morning, high cloud layers tending to thicken and increasingly cover the sky from the north. Visibility very good, may reduce later in north if drizzly rain arrives.
How Cold? (at 900m)
Near/below 0C at first, 3 to 5C afternoon. Wind chill feeling like -8C early in day, around -3C afternoon.
Freezing Level
600 to 800m, plus frost in glens at first. Lifting gradually above freezing to all tops.
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Sunday 21st April 2024
Last updated
Fri 19th Apr 24 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Variable and mostly low speeds, 10-15mph or less.
Effect of the wind on you?
Small
How Wet?
Little precipitation
Risk local pockets of drizzle mainly toward north and east in the morning. Chance of an isolated brief shower forming, perhaps a snow flurry on tops.
Cloud on the hills?
Covering some slopes, may lift
Banks of cloud around higher slopes in the morning, especially toward north and east where may linger. Some breaks forming toward the tops.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
50%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Fairly cloudy, but some sun breaking through. Visibility very good.
How Cold? (at 900m)
Around 5C, locally 7C by afternoon.
Freezing Level
Above the summits
Viewing Forecast For
Cairngorms NP and Monadhliath
Monday 22nd April 2024
Last updated
Fri 19th Apr 24 at
4:00PM
How windy? (On the Munros)
Northerly 25 to 35mph.
Effect of the wind on you?
Walking becoming uncomfortable on exposed terrain, some buffeting. Increasingly significant wind chill.
How Wet?
Rain most frequent north, later snow
Patchy showery rain, may be more persistent northern Cairngorms for periods, later turning to snow flurries on the Munros.
Cloud on the hills?
Fairly extensive
Covering the mountains much of the day, lowest cloud bases northern and eastern areas.
Chance of cloud free Munros?
30%
Sunshine and air clarity?
Mostly cloudy. Visibility at times good, but poor in rain.
How Cold? (at 900m)
4C dropping toward 0C from the north. Wind chill feeling like -5 to -8C, later -10C or below into evening.
Freezing Level
Close to freezing on highest summits, then lowering into evening and night toward 800m from the north.
Planning Outlook
Into early next week, high pressure will be centred toward the northwest, with sunny spells and scattered light showers. Northerly winds bring lower temperatures into midweek, near or below freezing over higher terrain, coldest toward the east. Lowering pressure is expected later in the week, turning more widely showery again with upland snow, plus hail. Day-to-day variations in extent of showers and cloud amounts. Cool conditions are likely to continue toward the change of month into early May, at least in Scotland.